‘Succession' Creator Jesse Armstrong Shades King Charles III at 2022 Emmy Awards
Armstrong made a joke about Charles' own succession to the throne
By Lindsay Weinberg ••
NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Actor Sheryl Lee Ralph sent social media abuzz with her acceptance speech, and host Kenan Thompson’s dancing took centerstage. Here are some of the top moments from this year’s ceremony.
The creator of "Succession" might take the crown for most awkward joke at the Emmy Awards.
Jesse Armstrong made a jab at King Charles III while on stage to accept the prize for Outstanding Drama Series at the 2022 Emmys on Sept. 12. Also nominated in the category this year were Better Call Saul, Euphoria, Ozark, Severance, Squid Game, Stranger Things and Yellowjackets. (See all the 2022 Emmys winners here.)
At the ceremony, which was held four days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Armstrong made a joke about Charles' succession to the throne.
Suggesting it's been "big week for successions in the U.K.," Armstrong said, "Evidently, a bit more voting involved in our winning than Prince Charles. I'm not saying we're more legitimate than that position--we'll leave that to other people. We are incredibly grateful to have this wonderful honor."
"It's a team effort, starting with the writers room, the producers who support us, the directors, my god, the extraordinary cast we are surrounded by, my goodness, our amazing crew," Armstrong said. "And HBO who protects and supports us, so many thanks."
However, the Emmys audience was not pleased by his apparent joke about the royal family.
An eyewitness tells E! News there were a lot of audible "wtfs" and no laughter in the crowd. "It seemed most people felt it was in poor taste," the witness said. Another eyewitness tells E! News, "It was just very awkward."
Armstrong's other writing credits include the series "The Queen's Nose," "Fresh Meat," "Babylon," "Peep Show," "The Old Guys" and "The Thick of It."
"Succession" follows the elite Roy family, who run the media empire Waystar Royco, and four siblings' battle to succeed their father Logan Roy (Cox) as head of the company.
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(L-R) Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Zendaya attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Jean Smart attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Julia Garner attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Mark Hampton and Christina Ricci attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Anthony Anderson attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Sydney Sweeney attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Paul W. Downs attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Trevor Noah attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Jeremy Strong attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Zedd attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Issa Rae attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Kaley Cuoco attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Caitlin Mehner and Danny Strong attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Reese Witherspoon attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Kerry Washington Black attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Andrew Garfield attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Quinta Brunson attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Ariana DeBose attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Seth Rogen attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Will Poulter attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Ayo Edebiri attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Sandra Oh attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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John Wilson attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Tyler James Williams attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Phil Dunster and Brett Goldstein arrive to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(L-R) Patricia ‘Ms. Pat’ Williams and Mary Lou Belli arrive to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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Kenan Thompson arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(L-R) Barry Williams, Mike Lookinland, Susan Olsen, Christopher Knight and Eve Plumb arrive to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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Laverne Cox attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Holden Chang (R) and guest attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Ashley Yi arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(L-R) Park Hae-soo and Oh Yeong-su arrive to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(L-R) Ismaël Cruz Córdova, Markella Kavenagh, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson arrive to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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Hannah Waddingham arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(3rd L-R) Carson Kressley, Michelle Visage, RuPaul and cast attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in
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US actress Natasha Rothwell arrives for the 74th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 12, 2022.
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Tim Kash attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) James Atkinson and Jane Becker attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Ballard C. Boyd and Kelsey Boyd attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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74th ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Zuri Hall arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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74th ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS — Pictured: Shonda Rhimes arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(L-R) Jeff Waite and Liz Phang arrive to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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(L-R) Hiro Murai and Emma Barrie attend the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Mark Indelicato attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Patrick Schumacker, Brittani Nichols, and Justin Halpern attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
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Sammi Hanratty arrives to the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022.
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